Phantis - User contributions [en]

Nikos Zisis

2008-09-27T05:00:24Z

Greek B Ball God:

[[Image:Nikos_zisis3.jpg|frame|left|Nikos Zisis<br>Position: Guard<br>Height/Weight: 6 ft 5 ¾ in / 215 lbs.]]
[[Image:Nikos-Zisis-Eurobasket-2005.jpg|thumb|300px|Nikos Zisis]]
[[Nikos Zisis]], born [[August 8]], [[1983]] in [[Thessaloniki]], [[Greece]], a key contributor to Greece’s triumph at [[Eurobasket 2005|Eurobasket in Belgrade]] the summer of [[2005]], was named Young Player of the 2005 Year by FIBA Europe, the sport’s governing body on the continent.

Zisis has been a winner at every stage of his career so far. At the Europeans, he won silver at the 1999 Under-16 tournament, bronze at the 2000 Under-18 event, and gold at the 2002 Under-20 championship, where he was also named the tournament’s MVP.

At the 2005 Eurobasket tournament, Zisis led the scoring in Greece’s win over host nation Serbia-Montenegro, but more importantly, chose his moments to pick up the offensive slack.

This aspect of his game was made clear in the elimination game against Israel when he tallied 23 points (7/10 shooting) and six assists in Greece’s important 67-61 victory.

Zisis also rose to the occasion in the tournament’s semifinal and final with 11 and 13 points, respectively.

Besides his senior-level participation at Eurobasket, the [[Nikos Zisis]] has also represented [[Greece]] in the [[Olympic Games]].

At club-level competition, Zisis excelled in 2005 with his former Greek club [[AEK BC|AEK]] in the Euroleague. AEK fans still recall his three-pointer on the buzzer against Efes Pilsen for a 70-69 win.

He helped his former Greek club win the Greek Cup in [[2001]] as well as the league title the following year.

Zisis’s statistics were among the best of all of the Euroleague’s young players in [[2005]], which eventually drew the attention of top European clubs. '''Nikos Zisis''' signed with Treviso following Eurobasket.

In an interview posted on FIBA’s website following his award victory, Zisis attributed his attraction to basketball to Greece’s first European title victory in 1987, while admitting that he barely recalled the occasion. At the time, Zisis was almost 4 years old.

“I don’t remember [[Eurobasket 1987|1987]], but my father tells me that it was the first time I asked him to take me to a basketball court. Obviously, I couldn’t quite carry the ball, or even bounce it, but it was like a bug in my body following my first experience. I couldn’t get away from it,” said Zisis. “I adore basketball, the atmosphere in the locker rooms before a big game, the satisfaction felt after victory, even the feeling after defeat, which simply makes your urge to win stronger. I can’t imagine my life without basketball.”

[[Category:Basketball Players|Zisis,Nikos]]
[[Category:1983 births|Zisis,Nikos]]

Panagiotis Giannakis

2008-08-08T05:03:57Z

Greek B Ball God:

'''Panagiotis Giannakis''' was a [[Greece|Greek]] [[basketball]] player, a member of the great [[Aris BC|Aris]] team of the [[1980s]] and the captain of the [[National Basketball Team]] that won [[Eurobasket 1987]].

Giannakis was born on [[January 1]], [[1959]] in [[Nikaia]], [[Piraeus]]. He started his playing career at local team [[Ionikos BC|Ionikos]] in [[1971]], transferred to Aris in [[1984]], played for [[Panionios BC|Panionios]] in [[1994]] and for [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]] in [[1995]] and [[1996]], finishing his career with a total of 9,291 points which places him 3rd on the all-time scoring list.

As a player, Giannakis won:
*the [[A1 Division|A1 championship]] 7 times (all with Aris)
*the [[Greek Basketball Cup]] 7 times (6 with Aris, once with Panathinaikos)
*the European Cup-Winners Cup once (with Aris in [[1993]])
*the European Champions' Cup (Euroleague) once in [[1996]] with Panathinaikos.

Giannakis has participated in 5 Euroleague final-fours (three with Aris, twice with Panathinaikos).

During his playing career, Giannakis played 351 times for the [[National Basketball Team]] of Greece (a European record for caps) scoring a total of 5,307 points (a Greek record). Besides leading Greece to Gold in 1987, he led them to silver in Eurobasket [[1989]] and to 5th place in the Atlanta Olympiad of [[1996]].

After his playing days were over, Giannakis became the coach of the Greek National Team. He made his debut on [[June 4]], [[1997]] against Israel with a 68-62 victory but the high point of his career came in his second tenure as National Team coach, on [[September 25]], [[2005]], when Greece defeated Germany 78-62 to win [[Eurobasket 2005]]. In between, Giannakis coached Panionios and [[Marousi BC|Marousi]].

Giannakis is married to Eugenia with two children: Calliope and Dimitris.

[[Category:1959 births|Giannakis Panagiotis]]
[[Category:Basketball Players|Giannakis Panagiotis]]
[[Category:Basketball Coaches|Giannakis Panagiotis]]

Nikos Zisis

2008-08-05T04:07:38Z

Greek B Ball God:

[[Image:Nikos_zisis3.jpg|frame|left|Nikos Zisis<br>Position: Guard<br>Height/Weight: 6 ft 5" / 210 lbs]]
[[Image:Nikos-Zisis-Eurobasket-2005.jpg|thumb|300px|Nikos Zisis]]
[[Nikos Zisis]], born [[August 8]], [[1983]] in [[Thessaloniki]], [[Greece]], a key contributor to Greece’s triumph at [[Eurobasket 2005|Eurobasket in Belgrade]] the summer of [[2005]], was named Young Player of the 2005 Year by FIBA Europe, the sport’s governing body on the continent.

Zisis has been a winner at every stage of his career so far. At the Europeans, he won silver at the 1999 Under-16 tournament, bronze at the 2000 Under-18 event, and gold at the 2002 Under-20 championship, where he was also named the tournament’s MVP.

At the 2005 Eurobasket tournament, Zisis led the scoring in Greece’s win over host nation Serbia-Montenegro, but more importantly, chose his moments to pick up the offensive slack.

This aspect of his game was made clear in the elimination game against Israel when he tallied 23 points (7/10 shooting) and six assists in Greece’s important 67-61 victory.

Zisis also rose to the occasion in the tournament’s semifinal and final with 11 and 13 points, respectively.

Besides his senior-level participation at Eurobasket, the [[Nikos Zisis]] has also represented [[Greece]] in the [[Olympic Games]].

At club-level competition, Zisis excelled in 2005 with his former Greek club [[AEK BC|AEK]] in the Euroleague. AEK fans still recall his three-pointer on the buzzer against Efes Pilsen for a 70-69 win.

He helped his former Greek club win the Greek Cup in [[2001]] as well as the league title the following year.

Zisis’s statistics were among the best of all of the Euroleague’s young players in [[2005]], which eventually drew the attention of top European clubs. '''Nikos Zisis''' signed with Treviso following Eurobasket.

In an interview posted on FIBA’s website following his award victory, Zisis attributed his attraction to basketball to Greece’s first European title victory in 1987, while admitting that he barely recalled the occasion. At the time, Zisis was almost 4 years old.

“I don’t remember [[Eurobasket 1987|1987]], but my father tells me that it was the first time I asked him to take me to a basketball court. Obviously, I couldn’t quite carry the ball, or even bounce it, but it was like a bug in my body following my first experience. I couldn’t get away from it,” said Zisis. “I adore basketball, the atmosphere in the locker rooms before a big game, the satisfaction felt after victory, even the feeling after defeat, which simply makes your urge to win stronger. I can’t imagine my life without basketball.”

[[Category:Basketball Players|Zisis,Nikos]]
[[Category:1983 births|Zisis,Nikos]]